BleepingComputer.com: Windows Live Messenger

Is there a way to prevent Windows Live Messenger from starting up and
appearing as a tray icon for Internet Explorer 7 and Windows Live Hotmail ?
I cannot remove the program because my wife uses Windows Live Messenger
as another user on this Windows XP Home box.
I have disabled the messenger program withing Autoruns but it still starts.
I think the Messenger I disabled was probably an older version.
I have gone through all the Hotmail help files and cannot find a solution.

Open up Messenger.
Click on TOOLS/Options.
Choose the Sign In tab.
UNCHECK Automatically run Windows Live Messenger when I log onto Windows.
Click Apply to save the change.

This should take care of Windows automatically opening when you get to your desktop.
I don't know if this will keep it from opening when you access WL Hotmail.

Queen-Evie, on Nov 29 2009, 11:17 AM, said:

Already was unchecked.

The Open Windows Live Messenger main window when Windows Live Messenger starts
is checked but blanked out. I cannot change it.

still loads when Hotmail starts

Use Autoruns and uncheck it there.

bluesjunior, on Nov 29 2009, 06:49 PM, said:

I already had
Windows Messenger Windows Messenger Microsoft Corporation c:\program files\messenger\msmsgs.exe
unchecked in Autoruns in the section:
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Extensions

Is there another location to find the Windows Live Messenger startup program?

Only thing I can think of is to either use the "Search For Files and Folders" to see if it's located in say a startup folder...
But personally I would just use MSCONFIG and remove it from startup... if the wife want's to use it, than she can still open it herself when needed..... however I may be miss understanding the question you are asking, and if so I apologize as I use Firefox instead of IE.

This post has been edited by C03_M4NN: 01 December 2009 - 04:52 PM

GWN, on Dec 1 2009, 07:06 AM, said:

Also just re-read all of this, the C:\Program_Files\Messenger\MSMSGS.exe is actually just the original messenger service that comes with windows xp and what not.... it's not actually Windows Live Messenger.... just Windows Messenger... if this is what your having an issue with and your wife uses Windows Live Messenger just remove the first... to make it easy u can use the following command..

*** Please note, this WILL remove the messaging service that came with your OS***
Click start then run, and copy and past this in EXACTLY how I have it here,

RunDll32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection %windir%\inf\msmsgs.inf,BLC.Remove